News and Events

Mayor Emanuel, World Business Chicago, honor SMS Assist among fastest-growing technology companies

July 14, 2017

CHICAGO, July 13, 2017 – SMS Assist, an innovative mobile and cloud-based multisite property management company, was recognized by Mayor Rahm Emanuel and World Business Chicago as one of 14 technology companies planning to add jobs throughout the Chicago area. Together, the companies will hire 1,000 new employees by the end of 2017. SMS Assist plans to add 150 new jobs this year.The company recently expanded to more than 750 employees – an increase of more than 100 employees in the last year – which more than triples its size since 2013 and represents a more than 1,000 percent increase since 2010.From a modest 11,000 square-foot office on Hubbard Street in 2004, SMS Assist now fills nearly 100,000 square feet in the iconic Hancock Center on Michigan Avenue, where it is revolutionizing property management for a fast-growing list of national and Fortune 500 companies.“We are grateful for the Mayor’s leadership and appreciate the collaboration with and support from our friends and colleagues at World Business Chicago and throughout the entrepreneurial community,” said Taylor Rhodes, CEO of SMS Assist. “Our world-class team is the heartbeat of the company. Giving each individual the tools to achieve their full potential is a priority. As our employees succeed, the company succeeds.”“Chicago’s growing tech economy is among the strongest in the world because it leverages the strength of our diverse economy,” Mayor Emanuel said. “The companies here today, which will create more than 1,000 jobs this year alone, represent some of the most innovative businesses in Chicago’s emerging tech community. To continue to build on the strength of Chicago’s global leadership in technology and innovation, next week we will sign new agreements to expand cooperation and collaboration with partners in Berlin, London and Milan.”The companies cross multiple industries including marketing, ecommerce, healthcare and the service industry and are hiring for all level of jobs - from artists and account executives to software engineers and client service providers.SMS Assist enhances how customers experience some of the nation’s biggest brands, streamlining dozens of facilities maintenance services with best-in-class contractors. The company’s technology platform offers real-time quality assurance and transparency across thousands of locations simultaneously.In 2016, SMS Assist received $150 million in Series D funding at a $1 billion valuation from Goldman Sachs Investment Partners, the same team that invested in Uber, Facebook, Pinterest and Spotify.For two years running, SMS Assist has earned a spot on the Forbes World’s Best 100 Cloud Companies list and a prestigious recognition in the Deloitte Technology Fast 500™. SMS Assist received the Moxie Award and the Merrick Momentum Award for its technology and industry leadership in 2015. The company also attracted previous investments from Huizenga Capital Management, Insight Venture Partners, and Pritzker Group Venture Capital.About SMS AssistSMS Assist is a Chicago-based technology company providing multisite property management to a roster of Fortune 500 clients with a team of more than 800 dedicated employees and more than 186,000 service locations. Using its proprietary software platform to manage its network of more than 20,000 affiliate subcontractors, SMS Assist offers a suite of property management benefits including leveraged pricing of products and services, a $50 million insurance policy, real-time services validation, instant invoicing, automatic service audits, and data analysis to ensure quality and cost efficiency. SMS Assist is revolutionizing multisite property management services for clients including JPMorgan Chase (NYSE: JPM), O’Reilly Automotive, Inc. (NASDAQ: ORLY) and Invitation Homes Inc. (NYSE: INVH). To learn more, visit smsassist.com.Contact:Elisabeth Klisser312-265-2047eklisser@smsassist.com

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